An unsettling incident came to light just four months before the Football World Cup. Human remains were found near a stadium selected for the World Cup. The incident occurred near Mexico's Estadio Akron Stadium.
This stadium has been chosen as a venue for the 2026 World Cup. Four World Cup matches will be played here. Following this incident, questions have been raised about human rights and security in Mexico.
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This stadium is located in Zapopan in Mexico's Guadalajara Metropolitan area. Four World Cup matches will be hosted here. Human remains have been recovered from areas around the stadium as well as from Las Agujas, Arroyo Hondo and Lomas del Refugio areas. A total of 456 bags of human remains have been recovered, and the number could increase further. However, the recovery of human remains is not a new occurrence. Human remains were first recovered in 2022.
In 2025, that number increased further. Local construction workers and multiple groups recovered 290 bags. And these have been recovered from populated areas. Forensic officers have reported that the remains include entire bodies and skeletons. Most bodies have been recovered from areas slightly away from the city.
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People disappearing in Mexico is not a new phenomenon. Many would file complaints after not finding their acquaintances. But without receiving help from the police, locals began searching for their loved ones. Gradually, the scope of this search expanded, with many volunteering to help. In this way, discoveries were made one by one.
Terror in Mexico
Jalisco is one of Mexico's most violence-ridden states. This area is a stronghold of anti-social elements. Conflicts break out among them from time to time. And after conflicts, many people disappear. These human remains are believed to have come from there.
Such incidents near World Cup stadiums are increasing concerns in world football. Supporters on social media have begun demanding the venue be moved from Mexico. Social activists and football supporters have appealed to FIFA to be more active regarding human rights.
